• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas Master Naturalist ProgramTexas Master Naturalist Program
  • Home
  • About
    • Want to be a Master Naturalist?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Our Team
    • Events
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Nature Reflections
    • Contact
  • Naturalist News
  • For Chapters
    • Volunteer Management System Portal
    • Chapter Documents
    • Curriculum
    • Email Listserv
    • Merchandise & Name Tags
    • Brand & Marketing
    • Certification and Service Pins
    • Chapter Templates and Resources
  • 2025 Annual Meeting
  • #TMNTuesdays
  • Pollinators for Texas
    • 2024 Pollinators for Texas Award Recipients
Search

Chapter Documents

This page contains the current Texas Master Naturalist Program governing documents, along with resources chapters may need in operating.

Table Of Contents
  1. Texas Master Naturalist Program Policies
    • Governing Documents
      • Roadmap for Governing Documents
      • Chapter Bylaws
      • Chapter Management and Operations Protocols
      • Chapter Operating Handbook Framework
    • Additional Operating Resources
      • COVID-19 Guidelines
      • Texas Master Naturalist Brand Guide
      • Chapter Records Retention Policy
      • TMN Insurance and Liability Protection 101
      • Process for Disciplining or Removing Members
      • Guidance for Citizen Science Volunteer Service Hours
      • Chapter Conflict of Interest (Form)
      • Governing Documents Feedback Form

Texas Master Naturalist Program Policies

All members of the Texas Master Naturalist Program will adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct as established by the Texas Master Naturalist Program.

 

Code of Ethics
Standards of Conduct

Governing Documents

 

Roadmap for Governing Documents

This document serves as the roadmap for the Texas Master Naturalist Program’s governing documents.

Governing-Documents-Adoption-Process

Chapter Bylaws

This state Bylaws template must be used by all Texas Master Naturalist chapters to adopt and amend their Chapter Bylaws according to Article X, Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws. The effective date of this state Bylaws template is January 1, 2023.


Chapter Management and Operations Protocols

This document is intended to provide the minimal requirements for Texas Master Naturalist chapter administration and to assist in initiating, developing, and managing a local chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. It is intended also to clarify and amplify articles of the Chapter Bylaws and to aid in developing a local Chapter Operating Handbook.


Chapter Operating Handbook Framework

This document is intended to guide the TMN chapter in developing its own Chapter Operating Handbook (COH) in compliance with the TMN Program governing documents. The COH is a resource for all members of the chapter, detailing day-to-day operational procedures to be followed, and it should be shared with all chapter members. All local options, policies, and procedures contained in the COH must meet the requirements of Chapter Bylaws and the TMN Chapter Management and Operations Protocols.


Additional Operating Resources

 

COVID-19 Guidelines

First and foremost, all Texas Master Naturalist events, meetings, service projects must be compliant with all federal, state, county and local public health proclamations and ordinances. Safety is our guiding principle for operations. Last updated May 2021.


Texas Master Naturalist Brand Guide

For the Master Naturalist program, establishing and maintaining a strong identity are crucial for continued success with prospective volunteers and instructors, funding agencies and potential consumers of the education and services we offer.


Chapter Records Retention Policy

The Chapters Records Retention Policy was developed to ensure full legal compliance, confidentiality of donors, accuracy and efficiency, and is to be a guide for chapters to use as they develop their local policy based on their local needs and board strategies.


TMN Insurance and Liability Protection 101

This informational page will discuss the types of insurance policies and other liability protection offerings currently available for the statewide Texas Master Naturalist Program, the suggested insurance policies each Chapter should research and those that individual Texas Master Naturalist volunteers may wish to research further on their own. This information is not intended to be legal advice, and Chapters should consult with their own attorney if they have questions about specific laws or legal requirements.

Incident Report Form


Process for Disciplining or Removing Members

This document explains the procedures that must be followed to investigate complaints and possible disciplinary action toward a member of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. It complements the general policy statement for disciplining or removing members in Chapter Management and Operations Protocols Section 8.


Guidance for Citizen Science Volunteer Service Hours

The use of apps for collecting natural history data has greatly expanded in recent years with two platforms, iNaturalist and eBird, becoming widely accepted and utilized by conservation agencies and organizations across the country and globe, including the Texas Master Naturalist Program and its sponsors, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This linked Guidance Document below is a resource of best practices to aid TMN chapters in developing a consistent application of volunteer service reporting for these platforms and those activities related to them.


Chapter Conflict of Interest (Form)

A fillable form to be used by chapters in the need for Board Attestation.


Governing Documents Feedback Form

For use in providing feedback, questions, comments about the governing documents of the Texas Master Naturalist Program.


Does your county not have a Texas Master Naturalist chapter and you are interested in starting one? Learn more here.

  • Want to be a Master Naturalist?
  • Contact
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • News
  • Honor a Master Naturalist

Texas Master Naturalist Program Office

495 Horticulture Drive, 2138 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843
Contact Us

© 2025 Texas A&M University. All rights reserved.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information